A bus load of fun

Griz Bus takes both Griz and Bobcat fans to the big game

By Nate Traylor

Leader Staff

In the end times, it is said the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat and the Griz fan shall share a bus with the Bobcat fan — Isaiah 11:6 (paraphrased)

So it’s a rough translation. But when Grizzlies and Bobcats are stuffed into a bus for three hours and no one is harmed in the process, surely this could be sign that humanity truly can get along.

It happened last Saturday when the Lake County chapter of the Griz Scholarship Association rented a bus and escorted fans of the rival schools to University of Montana were the men’s basketball team hosted the Montana State University Bobcats.

Starting in Polson, the bus picked up half a dozen folks from the South Shore Lounge, two of whom were brothers Luke and Lee Thornton. Though they didn’t make reservations as advised, they managed to finagle last-minute seats. It’s their first time taking the Griz Bus, but the brothers have heard plenty about it.

“It’s like a field trip … with alcohol,” said Luke.

One by one, maroon-clad Griz devotees boarded the bus, several with coolers in tow. There is a reason this bus is reserved for the 21 and over crowd. Whether you brought your own allotment or took advantage of the keg provided by Glacier Brewery, beer was available and not in short supply.

The ride between Polson and Ronan was pretty mild with only bits of scattered small talk bubbling up here and there. That would change once they arrived in Ronan.

Spilling out of the Pheasant Lounge was a bevy of sports fans, all in good spirits, ready for the ride.

“Oh, no. We’ve got Bobcat fans coming!”

Sure enough, a scant few yellow and blue shirts could be spotted among the maroon mob. Brave Bobcats Sally Lemmon and her son Lenny took the playful jeers in stride. Sally’s daughter attends MSU.

“I’ve given that school a lot of money,” she said.

Goodie bags, containing sandwiches and Griz paraphernalia, were passed out to the passengers. Sally riffled through the sack, pulled out a small Griz team flag and pulled a face. She explained that when she made reservations, she failed to mention that her allegiance was with MSU.

“I’m not sure it would have made a difference,” she laughed.

Soon enough, it was revealed that there was a reporter on board with plans to do a story that would bring to light the going-ons of the Griz Bus.

“Just don’t go naming names,” one man instructed.

“Just make sure to mention how great Ronan Griz fans are,” advised a woman.

For the record, Ronan Griz fans are great.

Griz Bus passengers abide by a certain maxim that states “What happens on the bus, stays on the bus,” making it difficult for a reporter to get anyone to divulge stories from past trips.

“You’d need a whole special section for that,” said Christy Fryberger, daughter of Carlene and Montana Bockman. Her dad was a Griz football player in the mid ‘50s, making her a dyed-in-the-wool Griz fan.

“I didn’t have a choice,” she said.

The bus continued south, making scheduled stops in St. Ignatius and Arlee. Along the way, the inevitable occurred.

“We need a mop back here,” shouted one man. Beer somehow ended up on the ceiling of the bus.

There was a 45-minute break in Arlee at Stockman’s Bar, providing people an opportunity to mingle, use the restroom and catch the last few minutes of the playoff game between the Eagles and Saints.

About 40 minutes and several Griz fight songs later, the bus arrived at Dahlberg Arena.

The buzz on the bus was that Ed Starkel had a 98 percent accuracy rate when it came to predicting the outcome of a Griz game.

“75 to 60, Griz,” he said confidently.

Not only did Griz and Bobcat fans ride the bus together, they also sat together and cheered for their respective teams — the yellow and blue mixed right in with the maroon.

“I had to sit next to a Bobcat on the bus,” said Starkel. “A Bobcat on a Griz bus! But we got along just fine.”

And if they could get along on the bus, they could get along in the arena.

The game was very much a back-and-forth match-up and tied 20-20 with 4:23 left on the clock in the first half. Though the Griz were up 29-25 at half-time, it wasn’t the blowout Griz fans were hoping for.

“We’re going to get it going in the second half,” said Starkel. “It’s not looking good right now.”

“Record this — we’re not concerned,” said one man to a reporter.

In the second half, both Griz and Bobcat fans had reason to be nervous as neither team had managed to build up a large enough margin to relieve the tension. It wasn’t until the final minutes when the Griz put the game clearly in their favor.

Starkel’s prediction wasn’t dead on, but it was pretty darn good, as the Griz won 73-65.

“Well, I was close,” he said.

As for Bobcat fan Lenny Lemmon, he wasn’t at all devastated.

“There is always next year,” he said.

The ride back would prove to be every bit as entertaining as the ride over. Al Skogen hopped on the intercom and expounded on the benefits of being a GSA member.

“If you’re interested in Griz athletics, this is a great place to start,” he said. However, his message was soon interrupted with shouts requesting the “piccolo story.” Before long, the shout prompted the whole bus to chant “Piccolo! Piccolo! Piccolo!” It’s a reference to an inside joke that would soon be revealed to outsiders. However, because this is a family paper, the joke had to stay inside.

More beer swilling and spilling ensued and the Griz Fight song would be heard several more times and even segue into “Born to Be Wild.”

“We’re gettin’ wild back here,” one man shouted.

But not as wild as if they were heading to a football game, explained Carlene Bockman. Basketball games tend to draw a tamer crowd.

Alice Erb agreed.

“Basketball definitely takes a back seat to football,” Erb said.

Bockman also speculated that things would maybe be a little more raucous, but in respect to present company, they toned down their celebratory antics.

“We’re trying to be respectful,” she said, adding that this is the first time in the history of GSA bus rides that they invited MSU enthusiasts.